The Decline of Rock ’n’ Roll MUSC-21600: The Art of Rock Music Prof. Freeze 17 September 2018 From Teeny to Tweeny: 1958–1963 • By late 1950s, big changes in rock ’n’ roll • Exits, scandals, deaths of most prominent musicians • Payola Investigations • Youth market splits • Industry response • Appropriate rock to Tin Pan Alley business model (Brill Building) • Bring in “safer” white artists to cover black artists songs • American Bandstand (Dick Clark) • Fosters impression of national youth culture • Competing interpretations • Stagnation, triviality and attempted domestication of rock? • Stylistic plurality and accomplishment in times of economic, racial upheaval? Situating “Tweeny” Songs • Wholesome white artist for teenagers • “Turn Me Loose” (Fabian, 1955) • Dance music suited to American Bandstand • “The Twist” (Chubby Checker, 1960) • Last of the major covers (economic strategy with often racist outcomes) • Twist: a dance popular in African American community • Equalized gender dynamic because individual, no-contact • Elements of R&B (12-bar blues, instrumentation, saxophone solo) • Strong rock backbeat with rumba influences • Clear, smooth vocals with some R&B inflections (“Baaabyyyyy”) • Lyrics assume you can see the singer dance (on TV) • Song that spoke to social/political concerns of young adults • “Tom Dooley” (The Kingston Trio, 1958) Birth of Surf and the California Sound • “Miserlou” (Dick Dale and His Del-Tones, 1962) • Instrumental, guitar-based style • Extra-thick guitar strings, high reverb • Rapid tremolo picking on guitar combined with slides • Greek melody • Vocal surf • Jan and Dean: emulated tight, Everly-styled harmonies • “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (The Everly Brothers, 1958) • Continuity of rockabilly style from mid 1950s • The Beach Boys • Text = mythological California • Music = Surf meets doo wop + glee club + rock ’n’ roll + Wall of Sound • “Surfin’ U.S.A.” (The Beach Boys, 1963) • Lyrics highlight hot surf spots • Rich back-up vocals • Ringing falsetto hook • Surf-oriented instrumentals • Modeled on “Sweet Little Sixteen” (Chuck Berry, 1958).